It’s that time of the year again, time when People magazine names their selection of the Sexiest Man of the Year and this year, they have bestowed that hallowed honor on the one and only Channing Tatum. While Channing has been featured among the Sexiest Men of the Year before, this is the first time he has graced the People cover as THE sexiest of them all. Considering how much lurve People gave to the cheeky male stripper film Magic Mike earlier this year, it should come as no big surprise that Channing has been selected for this tribute. Click below to see Channing‘s sexiest People magazine coverphoto, read some excerpts from his coverstory article and see which other hot mens made the cut this year as the sexiest of the year.

He may have bared (almost) all of that incredibly chiseled body in this year’s Magic Mike but 2012′s Sexiest Man Alive Channing Tatum was still modest when he heard the news. “My first thought was, ‘Y’all are messing with me,’” says Tatum, who married actress Jenna Dewan-Tatum in 2009. “I told Jenna after we’d been in the bathtub washing our dogs because they’d gotten skunked.” Says the actor: “She was like, ‘What?’” “Yeah, she calls me [the Sexiest Man Alive] now,” he adds. And who can blame her? Her Alabama-bred heartthrob of a husband is also a sculptor who quotes Edgar Allan Poe, loves to give her massages and can’t wait to start their family. “I’m ready; I think she’s ready,” Tatum, 32, says. “The first number that pops into my head is three, but I just want one to be healthy and then we’ll see where we go after that.” “It’s really easy for us guys to say, ‘I want like 15 kids,’” he continues. “Jenna will be like, ‘Well you better get another wife!’” Currently training to play an Olympic athlete in next year’s Foxcatcher, Tatum is all heart and muscle at 195 pounds. “I like to be lean. If I get too bulky I can’t move well and I like to move,” he says. “When I’m not training, I get really round and soft.” Which is just fine by his wife. “People know him to be fun and sexy, but they don’t know how emotionally deep and spiritually open he is,” says Dewan-Tatum, 31. “He is such an open-hearted person; what you see is what you get.”

For years, Channing has kind of existed under the Hollywood radar. He would show up in movies (usually cheesy dance movies) and people would know of him but he was never really considered a leading man. His starring role in the semi-autobiographical Magic Mike shot his status straight into the stratosphere. Seemingly overnight, he became a very hot commodity. But let’s be real, Channing has always been a sexy man … it’s about time People decided to laud him for it ;)

As you may know, the annual Sexiest Man Alive issue is chock full of LOTS of hot dudes and this year, the issue features hotties like Damian Lewis (Homeland), Denzel Washington (Flight), Paul Rudd (everything awesome), Olympian Oscar Pistorius and more!

Honestly, I never find myself particularly wowed by People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive issue because in recent years, the selections have tended to be pretty predictable. Now, it’s not that Channing‘s selection is shocking or anything but it’s a nice change of pace, I think. This year, a magazine full of sexy men is much more appealing to me … so I’ll be picking up an issue this week. What do y’all think of this year’s crop of Sexiest Men Alive? I’m happy Damian Lewis made the list … did your fave make the list this year?

@ Jennifer-He sort of does come off as an dolt and only a pretty face with a body you want to melt and then smother yourself in….Wow….But the article shows looks are deceiving. He seems like a totally down to earth guy who is an attentive sweet husband, creative, and much deeper than roles he chooses.
He’s gonna make an awesome father to my-I mean Jenna-no f*ck her-MY babies.

Omg, that ass, I just melted! I love it. Guys asses are forgotten about a lot when trying to get sexy pictures, so I’m glad they got it right! I’m not the only one who likes guy booty, am I? Ok, Ok, stop talking about his ass.